1
: marked commendation : acclaim
… the kind of applause every really creative writer wants.—
Robert Tallant
Robert Tallant2
: approval publicly expressed (as by clapping the hands)
a round of applause
Examples of applause in a Sentence
The announcement was greeted with applause and cheers.
a design for a memorial for the victims of the attack that has received nothing but applause from officials, commentators, and the general public
Recent Examples on the Web
The most sinister idea in modern politics has received a California jury’s endorsement, and much applause.
—George F. Will, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Video from inside the cabin shows passengers erupting into cheers and applause, some shouting in relief after the aircraft came to a stop.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Turner gathered his papers, stepped off the platform, and walked back to his seat to a smattering of applause.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
The bill passed its final vote in the Israeli parliament late Monday to cheers and applause.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for applause
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George F. Will, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Video from inside the cabin shows passengers erupting into cheers and applause, some shouting in relief after the aircraft came to a stop.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Turner gathered his papers, stepped off the platform, and walked back to his seat to a smattering of applause.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
The bill passed its final vote in the Israeli parliament late Monday to cheers and applause.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for applause
Cite this Entry
“Applause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applause. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
applause
noun
ap·plause
ə-ˈplȯz 
: approval shown especially by clapping the hands
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